Billiard-table cushion



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v WM. B. CARPENTER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IBILLIARD-TABLE CUSHION.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,994, dated October 28, 1856.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, WM. B. CARPENTER, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, in the State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Constructing Cushions for Billiard-Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing that part of billiard tables, ,commonly called cushions of elastic strips of steel, brass, or any other metal which may be made properly elastic for the purpose. Such metallic strip or plate is to be firmly secured at its entire lower edge, or near the edge which will cause said lower edge to be entirely rigid, but the entire upper edge and its adjacent parts are to be freely elastic for the purpose of repelling the stroke of a ball played against it. Notwithstanding I herein describe the full operation of the metallic strip or plate, yet I do not wish to be understood as describing as my invention the original use of such plate, as it has been used before in France, England and the United States; but the fastening the said plate rigidly along its. entire lower edge produces a new and useful result in the use of the metallic spring plate. And I wish it to be understood from what has been said and what may follow herewith, that the said fastening of the lower edge of the said spring plate is all I describe as my improvement in the use of such metallic plate in the construction of billiard cushions. The metallic-elastic-spring strip being secured to its place, I then insert between said spring and the wood work to which it is' attached a packing or lling of cloth, curled hair wool, or other suitable material, for the purpose of filling up the space between the said spring and wood work, and also to relieve or assist the spring plate from becoming injured. A cushion so made will present a clean straight edge and likely to remain permanently true. The said spring is then to be inclosed by a covering of thin leather or cloth or any suitable material.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters referring to like parts.

Figure l is a plain draft of the shape I propose for the metal strip, that is, when such strip is to be used for a cushion on a table that has pockets or divisions, when a cushion is so made siX of them are used on each table, this metal strip represents the facing of one of such cushion. But if a set of cushions is made for what is called a caroiii table then the ends of the metal strip marked z', z', may be square or nearly so. A, Fig. l, is the metal strip. f, y, is the upper wedge. c, c, is the lower edge which is perforated with holes for the insertion of screws. The object of making the lower edge e, e, shorter than the upper edge f, f, is, that the parts of said spring marked 2'., may be bent around the pockets without destroying its elasticity. If the eXtreme ends were left too square or sharp they might cut the covering which may be put upon them. The strip A may be made of any desirable thickness, length or height, according to the size of the table and degree of elasticity required.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly sectional. A is the spring strip, firmly secured to the wood work C, at or near its lower edge with screws marked c c. The said fastening of the strip or plate A to the woodwork c, with screws or their equivalents at e, e, is the only, and exact extent of my invention with regard to the use of the metallic-spring plate. The upper edge f, f, is to be left freely elastic along its entire length, B is the space between the spring A and the wood work c. The said space B may be stuffed or packed with cloth or other suitable material; the cushion may then be covered with thin leather or cloth or anything suitable for the purpose. D shows a part of the cushion covered and ready for use.

I distinctly disclaim as my invention the use of the metallic-spring strip, or facing, in the construction of billiard cushions. But

What I do claim as my invention and desire t0 secure` by Letters Patent is the mode herein described, or its equivalent, of the fastening of the metallic-spring strip, or facing, lirinly at or near its entire lower edge e, e, substantially and for the purpose as herein described.

wM. B. CARPENTER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. GERAN, RICHARD W. Mori'. 

